“Because she likes him? You realise she’s not a kid. Maybe she wants a boyfriend.”

“I know she’s not a kid, Black. She’s older than I am.”

“Well maybe she wants a boyfriend!”

“Why Peter? Why the heck Peter?”

“Don’t ask me. Pettigrew’s a mate, but I never really thought he was a babe magnet. His only real asset as far as chicks go is that he hangs out with me and James.”

“Firstly, females generally don’t like to be referred to as poultry. Secondly, it’s James and me.”

“He doesn’t hang out with you!”

“Whatever. But if I find out that you did anything to make Em like your idiot of a friend, I will personally hunt every one of you down and torture you.”

“Why not just kill us?”

“Not as painful for you, not as fun for me.”

“You really, really, really need a counsellor.”

“Goodbye, Sirius.”

“See ya.”

---- ---- ---- ---- ----

“I don’t get this!” moaned Jess, sitting in the library. Usually she’d get Lily or Bex to help with her homework, but they were outside duelling with Sirius and James, and Emily hadn’t concentrated for more than five seconds on one thing except the dance since Peter had asked her out. What on Earth had possessed her to say yes was beyond Jess’s comprehension. Much like this essay…

“Need any help?” said a voice. Jess turned around. It was Remus Lupin, perhaps the most sensible of the Marauders. Well, Jess was pretty desperate…

“Merlin, yes. Do you know anything about the history of the Locomotion charm?” she asked.

“Heaps.” Replied Lupin.

“Oh good. Get your bum on this chair and help me out!” ordered Jess. After a while, her essay completed, Jess was able to relax.

“So, Jess, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me?” asked Lupin. Jess, who was leaning backwards on her chair, balancing on two of its legs, toppled backwards.

“You want me to what?”

“Go to the ball with me.” Jess righted herself.

“Well, you have been pretty nice. Helping me with my homework and all… okay then. See you there!” she flounced out of the library, taking her stuff with her, including her completed essay.

---- ---- ---- ---- ---- etc etc

“You said yes to a Marauder?” asked Bex and Lily incredulously.

“He was very sweet, helping me with my homework!” said Jess guiltily.

“Lets not make her feel bad,” Bex said to Lily. “But a Marauder?” she said again, rounding on Jess.

“Yes!”

“A Marauder!” Bex repeated.

“Which part of it don’t you understand?” Jess joked.

“The Marauder part!” Lily said.

“It means someone who goes around leaving trouble in their wake.”

“I don’t need the stupid definition!”

“Fine then.”

“What is the world coming to?” Bex asked Lily after Jess had left. “First Emily, now Jess… promise me, you will not go out with Potter.”

“Um…” Lily said.

“NO! NOT YOU TOO!”

“You have no idea, Rebekah! He just kept asking and asking, and he was so annoying, and he was begging me to take him to the dance. Like, on bended knee! He was irritating me so much, I had to get him to stop! I told him that it was just this once, I really did! It’s not my fault! He was so aggravating! It was like having a maddening shadow, constantly asking me out. He followed me everywhere; I couldn’t get rid of him!”